Does My Cut Finger Need Stitches?
A cut finger usually needs stitches if the wound gapes when you relax your hand, keeps bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, or you cannot fully bend or straighten the finger. Dr SOS provides same-day, surgeon-led finger wound assessment and stitching in London, including tendon and nerve checks, closure under local anaesthetic and suture removal, at our Chelsea clinic. Closure starts from £295.
NHS Surgeon Led
Every procedure performed by experienced NHS surgeons.
Same-Day Appointments
Most patients seen within 24 hours.
Transparent Pricing
Fixed, published prices. No hidden consultation fees.
Chelsea, London
25 Ives Street - minutes from South Kensington.
CQC Registered
In cooperation with Ash Pro Skin Ltd, a CQC-registered care provider.
What we treat
- Kitchen knife and mandoline cuts
- Wounds that gape or will not stop bleeding
- Cuts over knuckles and finger creases
- Numbness, tingling or weak bending
- Glass and can lid injuries
- Tetanus check and infection advice
Who it's for: Anyone with a finger cut that gapes, bleeds persistently, is deep or affects movement or sensation.
What to expect
- 1
Call us and we will confirm a same-day slot.
- 2
Assessment of depth, gaping and any tendon or nerve involvement.
- 3
Cleaning and irrigation under local anaesthetic.
- 4
Closure with fine sutures, or dressing alone where that heals better.
- 5
Aftercare, tetanus advice and suture removal at 10 to 14 days.
Signs a cut finger needs stitches
Look for a wound deeper than about 5mm or longer than about 1cm, edges that gape apart when the finger is relaxed, visible yellow fat or deeper tissue, or bleeding that continues after ten minutes of firm pressure. Numbness down one side of the finger, or difficulty bending or straightening the tip, points to nerve or tendon injury and needs same-day surgical assessment.
The closure window: how long you have to get stitches
Two things decide whether a finger cut is stitched: how far it gapes when the hand is relaxed, and how long ago it happened. Closing a clean wound within 12 hours, and generally under 24 hours, gives a neater scar and a lower infection rate than letting it heal open. Sutures are removed at 10 to 14 days, which we arrange for you.
Kitchen knife cuts to the finger
Kitchen knife and mandoline wounds are usually clean and sharp, so they close very neatly when treated promptly. The risk is depth, because a sharp blade reaches tendon and digital nerve easily on the palm side of the finger. Glass and can lid cuts behave similarly and are worth checking for retained fragments.
Related:kitchen knife injuries,glass and foreign body removal
Same-day finger stitches in Chelsea, London
Dr SOS treats cut fingers at 25 Ives Street, Chelsea, with same-day appointments and no referral needed, so wounds are closed inside the ideal window rather than after hours of waiting. Assessment and closure starts from £295. Call 020 3433 0999.
Related:see our prices,book an appointment
Emergency care
Dr SOS is not an emergency department. If you have a life-threatening injury, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E.
Related services
Same-day closure and tendon assessment after kitchen accidents.
Surgeon-led stitching for wounds that need closing today.
Assessment and closure of cuts and lacerations in Chelsea.
Dressings, infection review and wound follow-up.
Book a same-day appointment at our Chelsea clinic.
Cut Finger - Frequently Asked Questions
Hurt today? Be seen today.
Same-day appointments with experienced NHS surgeons in Chelsea. Fast access to urgent minor surgical care when you need it most.